Spectaclle cases-



Jan. 24, 1956 E. A. wxLcox SPECTACLE CASES Filed Aug. 1l, 1954 FIG,

JNVENTQR. Edward/Q Wzlcox BY United States Patent() 2,732,061 SPECTACLECASES Edward A. Wilcox, Chicago, Ill. Application Augustll, 1954',Serial No; 449:,037

I l`ai'm; (Cl 20'6-5)'- The present invention relates to improvements inspectacle cases, and is particularly concerned with improvements foreliminating the inconvenience and losses and expense that have beencaused by the loss of spectacles by individuals, which requiresimmediate replacement.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvedspectacle case which is provided with a pocket or container for holdingor retaining an identification card, which may give the name of theowner and his address and may indicate that return postage will beprovided if the spectacles and case are dropped in the mails.

Another object of the invention is the provision of many improved formsof spectacle cases, all of which have in common the fact that they areprovided with a pocket, preferably concealed, but adapted to contain acard which is provided with the name and address of the owner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved spectaclecases of the rigid metal type or the fiexible plastic or leather type,each of which may be provided with an attached or incorporated pocketfor receiving an identification card.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying thisspecification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a spectacle case of a flexibleleather type, which incorporates an integral pocket containing anidentification card with the name and address of the owner of thespectacles;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the spectacle case of Fig. 1, withthe card partially withdrawn;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the front and reverse sides of theidentification card;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a similar View of a modification in which thepocket is formedby stitching a flap on the outside of the case;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an open metal case, the cover of which isprovided with a pocket located under the lining of the metal case;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line7-7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a modification with a pocketformed by adhesively securing a patch of fabric to the lining of themetal case along three sides of the patch, forming a pocket.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 indicates in its entirety a spectaclecase of the flexible leather type, which is formed of a pair ofrectangular pieces of leather having rounded ends at 11 and 12, the twopieces of leather being indicated at 13 and 14.

In spectacle cases of this type the two pieces of leather are securedtogether by a single' line of lstitching indicated at 15, which extendsdown one of the long sides 1'6 around. the rounded bottom 17 and up theother straight side 1'8. The stitching preferably stops at 19V and 20short of the rounded ends, leaving apair of separable fl'aps which maybe opened to gain access to the spectacles contained in the case.

The present spectacle case has one of`its leather pieces 14, forexample, split atv 21 from the round'ecend 1`1V down along the straightside 18T to the point 22 andto a depth indicated at 23' by the dottedline. This split in the leather is formed before the two parts 13" and"14,- are stitched together.

This. forms an integral. pocket 24, extending lengthwise of thespectacle case 10"' and having an opening 25 at its upper end forreception of an identification card 24a. The pocket is preferably longenough to receive the entire card, which can be seen at the end opening25.

The card 24a preferably contains a plurality of longitudinal lines withindicia at their ends, indicating the owners name, address, phone, andmessage are to be inserted; and the message inserted may be RewardOffered for Return or may be Return Postage Guaranteed. The dataopposite the indicia on the card are to be inserted by the individualowning the spectacles.

Referring to Fig. 5, this is a modification in which a thin, elongated,rectangular flap 26 of fabric or leather forms a pocket 27 by beingstitched at 28 to the layer 14 along one edge and its bottom and beingsecured at the other edge by the same line of stitching 15 which lattersecures the two pieces of leather together. This pocket is also open atthe end 25 and serves to receive the same type of card 24a.

Referring to Fig. 6, this is a view showing the inside of a metalspectacle case provided with an identification pocket 24 either locatedon the outside of the lining 29 or between the lining 29 and metal case30.

The lining 29 may be adhesively secured to the inside of the metal case.The adhesive may be omitted from the lining and metal along the areadefining the pocket 24 between the dotted lines. The lining 29 is slitat 31 to provide an opening which gives access to the card 24a.

Referring to Fig. 8, this is a modification in which the pocket 24 forthe card 24a is provided by an extra patch 33 of the same lining 29 or adifferent fabric having a layer 32 of contact adhesive extending aroundon the inside of the patch 33 on three sides. This secures the patch 33to the lining 29 of the metal case 30 on three sides, leaving the accessopening at the end for receiving the card 24a.

I desire it to be understood that instead of stitching or adhesivelysecuring the parts together any other types of securing means, such asmetal staples, wiring, etc. may be employed.

It will thus be observed that I have invented improved spectacle caseswhich will eliminate much inconvenience, expense, and aggravationusually caused by the loss of spectacles because my spectacle cases areprovided with a pocket for receiving an identification card.

By the identification card the name, address, and `phone number of theowner may be ascertained, a reward may be offered, or postage forreturning the spectacles may be guaranteed. In most cases well meaningfinders of the spectacles will be kind enough to return the spectaclesby dropping them in the mail box or even telephoning the owner so thathe can call for them.

Special spectacles for individuals often cost large sums; and even themost simple types are too expensive to be lost and to replace them.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A spectacle case comprising a pair of eXible leather members ofco-extensive shape and size and having parallel lateral edges, both ofsaid members being of sufficient length and width to receive a pair ofspectacles between them, and both having similar rounded edges at eachend, one of said leather members being split into two layers along oneof its parallel side edges from the open rounded end to a point nearerthe closed end, and said split extending laterally into said latterleather member to a line parallel to the side edge, to form an elongatednarrow pocket for receiving an identification card for return of thespectacles when lost, and a line of stitching extending through bothsaid members and through both layers ofthe latter member, where it issplit, and securing them together around one end and along the twoparallel sides to points short of the rounded edges at the other end,leaving the latter end open, and the unsecured rounded edges beingseparable aps for access to the spectacles and to one edge of the cardat its outer end, the said card being retained in place in saidelongated pocket by friction, and the pressure engagement of the facesof the two split' layers forming the elongated pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,156,772 Goodell Oct. 12, 1915 1,842,599 Fraser Jan. 26, 1932 2,467,984Patts Apr. 19, 1949 2,489,707 Eubanks Nov. 29, 1949

